Financial turnover may be massive at a civil engineering business, but it’s a completely different story when it comes to staff.

For the Owen Pugh Group, which has sites in Cramlington and Dudley, has recently recognised 12 staff who between them have clocked up a staggering 426 years of service.

Longest-serving worker is 65-year-old Albert Trick, a plant operator who has been with the business since 1970, while fellow plant operator Malcolm Cuthbertson has become the eighth employee in its history to become part of the over 40 years’ club.

Welder Russell Frank has notched up 30 years’ service, and IT manager Steve Dunn has 20 years under his belt.

Another eight staff have been with Owen Pugh for more than 30 years, and across the group’s 420 employees, 27 have accumulated 20 years, 83 have more than ten years’ service and 146 have been there more than five years.

Chairman John Dickson said: “As a business we pride ourselves on retaining the talent that has made Owen Pugh the success it is today so to celebrate the fact that 12 of our longest serving employees have amassed 426 years between them is incredible.

“I am thankful for their commitment to the business over the years.”

The business is marking its own milestone as it celebrates it 70th anniversary from its origins in plant hire and haulage to become a full service civil engineering contractor. Since a management buyout in 2005, it has seen turnover rise to more than £36m.